This DREF operation contributes to the vaccination of at least 95% of the total population of the 11 health areas targeted in the provinces of Kongo Central and Kinshasa against yellow fever, for a period of two months. In January 2016, a yellow fever outbreak was detected and confirmed in Angola, Southern Africa. Following cross-border population movement from Angola into neighbouring countries, exported cases were later reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On 23 March 2016, the DRC Ministry of Health (MoH) declared an official yellow fever outbreak, with a total of 39 imported cases from Angola reported in Kongo Central and Kinshasa provinces. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some autochthonous transmission cases have been also reported in Ndjili, Kinshasa and in Matadi, Kongo Central province. As of 11 May 2016, a total of 44 yellow fever cases have been confirmed, with 551 suspected cases reported including 167 in Kongo Central and 133 in Kinshasa. The DREF operation will be based in 11 health areas of Kinshasa and Kongo Central provinces, which have been identified as the most affected, including: Boma, Boma Bungu, Kitona, Muanda (Boma Antenna), Matadi, Nsona Pangu, Nzanza (Matadi Antenna), Kimpangu, Kimpese (Mbanza-Ngungu Antenna) in the province of Kongo Centra, as well as Massina 2 and Ndjili in Kinshasa Province.

What

The DREF will support the vaccination campaign initiated by the MoH and its partners. Given the emergency aspect of the situation, the focus will be on social mobilization campaign (raising awareness and supporting behaviour change in at-risk communities) as well as on helping the MoH with the vaccination process if needed.

Who

This DREF operation is targeting a total of 1,976,773 people (> 95 per cent of the at-risk population), of which 747,423 people are expected to be vaccinated in rural areas and 1,229,350 people in urban areas.